A Hinckley mum claims her son is missing out on essential education as well as social interaction after being denied a place at her preferred school.

Yasmin Hutchinson applied for four-year-old Riley to attend Battling Brook primary during the latest round of school place nominations.

She also listed Westfield and Richmond as alternative choices for a September start.

However she says all three schools have been denied Riley with no explanation and she’s been told to either wait until January to see if a place becomes available at Richmond or send him to a primary in Earl Shilton in September but with no support to get him there.

Care assistant Yasmin said: “If I had applied late then perhaps I could understand it but I put in the application as soon as it was opened. It’s really frustrating and it has really upset me. I’ve been in tears.

“When Riley got turned down for Battling Brook, I appealed and it was rejected. Now I am being advised to either send him to a school three miles away or wait until January.

“I didn’t want him to start in January, he is quite shy and he will be missing out on making friends. But the main thing is he will be missing out on education. I know it’s mostly based around play at that age but he will still have to catch up.”

The 21-year-old single mum said taking Riley to a school in Earl Shilton was not practical as she doesn’t drive and no-one else is available to provide lifts for him.

She added: “I suppose I will have to wait now, there seems no point in appealing.”

A spokesman for Leicestershire County Council said they worked hard to try and accommodate parents’ first choice of school.

They added: “The vast majority of schools prioritise applications for children in their catchment area. In terms of this case, the parent had applied for two schools out of their catchment area which were rejected, and submitted a late application to a school within their catchment area, which was also rejected. The child is now on the waiting list for all three schools - should a place become available, the parent will be automatically contacted.

“The parent has the right to appeal the decisions made. We are currently working with the family to help ensure that the child can find a suitable school place as soon as possible.”

Children are not legally required to start school until the term after their fifth birthday.